Soviet inspired Czechoslovakia peacefully split into two countries (Slovakia and Czech Republic) on January 1 1993, in what became known as the Velvet Divorce.

In 1993, the city became the capital of the newly formed Slovak Republic following the Velvet Divorce.

From 1945 until the Velvet Divorce, it was part of Czechoslovakia.

Slovakia became independent on January 1, 1993 with the peaceful division of Czechoslovakia in the Velvet Divorce.

- The country became an independent state on January 1, 1993 after the peaceful dissolution of Czechoslovakia - the so-called Velvet Divorce.

Dissolution of Czechoslovakia:Czech Republic and the Slovakia separate in the so-called Velvet Divorce.

After the Velvet Divorce, laws about citizenship became clearer with the new constitutions.

After the event called Velvet Divorce, when the Czechoslovakia broke up, Bratislava became capital of Slovakia.

Founded in 1991, its leader is Vladimír Mečiar, who, as Prime Minister, led Slovakia through the Velvet Divorce.

This small but proudly independent new country has made huge progress, since the Velvet Divorce ten years ago, in modernising its economy from a command one to a functioning market.